Alibaba Akpobome

Ali Baba was born in Agbarha otor, Delta State, Nigeria on 24 June 1965,{{cite web | url=https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/06/24/congratulatory-messages-pour-in-as-ali-baba-clocks-55/ | title=Congratulatory messages pour in as Ali Baba clocks 55 - P.M. News }} to the royal family of Agbarha Otor. He is the first son of several children and spent his first 8 years in Warri, Delta State. His father is a retired soldier who served in Lagos.

He attended Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos State, and Ibru College Agbarha-Otor, Delta State. He attended Bendel State University (now Ambrose Alli University), Ekpoma and graduated with a degree in Religious Studies & Philosophy.He was neighbour to Pastor Chris Oyakhilome while at school in university.{{cite web |title=Nigeria: I Stumbled Into Comedy By Accident -- Alli Baba |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200706090007.html |website=All Africa |publisher=Vanguard Newspapers}}

After completing his academic degree in 1990, he relocated back to Lagos,{{cite web |title=Ali Baba: I had so many scattered dreams before comedy fell into place |url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/08/ali-baba-i-had-so-many-scattered-dreams-before-comedy-fell-into-place/ |newspaper=Vanguard |date=26 August 2012}} to develop his comedy talent he discovered at the university. Originally, he planned to study Law but decided he could be more successful by making people laugh than by defending them.

He began his professional career performing at corporate events, appearing on television shows with Patrick Doyle, Charly Boy, and Danladi Bako, and making cameo appearances on radio shows with Bisi Olatilo, Sani Irabor, and Mani Onumonmu.{{cite web |title=Ali Baba: Comedians are now ambassadors, philanthropists |date=29 June 2014 |url=https://www.thecable.ng/ali-baba-comedians-are-now-ambassadors-philanthropists |publisher=The Cable |access-date=12 February 2022}} He also worked with Prince Adedapo Benjamin Adelegan of DP Lekki Limited as executive assistant in 1991.

In 2014, Ali Baba started an annual comedy event called the 1 January concert.{{cite web |title=Nigeria: Alibaba's New Year Concert |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201412150591.html |website=All Africa |publisher=Thisday |access-date=12 February 2022}} Comedians come up to review the events of the previous year and a first-class graduate from the preceding year receives an award.{{cite web |title=Alibaba: being funny is serious business |date=15 January 2016 |url=https://businessday.ng/personality/article/alibaba-being-funny-is-serious-business/ |publisher=BusinessDay |access-date=12 February 2022}}

In 2015, he started an event called Spontaneity; a quarterly event for budding comedians.{{cite web |title=Alibaba's Spontaneity: One Comedy Prodigy To Win A Car And Internship At January 1st Concert |date=30 December 2017 |url=https://thenet.ng/alibabas-spontaneity-one-comedy-prodigy-win-car-internship-january-1st-concert/ |publisher=Nigerian Entertainment Today |access-date=12 February 2022}} Notable among the finalists of this competition is Woli Arole at the 2016 edition.{{cite web |title="I AM A REAL PROPHET" WOLI AROLE |url=http://ibcity.info/ibcitynew/thepeople/60-people-s-edition-1/taste-makers-and-entertainers/399-woli-arole |website=Ibadan City Info |access-date=12 February 2022}}

Ali Baba maintains the philosophy that his business is big enough for all who want to make comedy their chosen profession. As such, he supports, mentors, and presents several comedians helping to ensure that standards are maintained, and professionalism encouraged.{{cite web |title=Comedy not dying, only being badly practised –Ali Baba |url=http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/e-punch/comedy-not-dying-only-being-badly-practised-ali-baba/ |newspaper=Punch |date=1 June 2012 |access-date=12 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417103652/http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/e-punch/comedy-not-dying-only-being-badly-practised-ali-baba/ |archive-date=17 April 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Ali Baba was inducted into the Johnnie Walker 'Striding Man' Society in 2009 which recognizes men who have achieved great strides in their chosen fields and who motivate and encourage others Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote his forward from Nigerian Film website. Retrieved on 15 September 2008, from http://www.nigeriafilms.com/content.asp?ContentTypeID=7&contentid=3122

In 2012, he rang the Year End Closing Bell of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the first Nigerian comedian to do so.

He is a Special Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps.

In March 2015, Ali Baba was featured on [https://edition.cnn.com/world/africa/african-voices-changemakers CNN African voices], speaking about his goal to professionalize and gain acceptance for Nigerian comedians.{{cite news |author= |date=6 March 2015 |title=Laughter is a serious business for top comedian |url=https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/03/06/spc-african-voices-atunyota-alleluya-akporobomerere-a.cnn/ |work= CNN African Voices}}

In April 2018, Ali Baba received the Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary International for his contribution to the Nigerian Comedy industry

Ali Baba is married to Mary Akpobome.{{cite web |title=Ali Baba & Mary: Comedy, fun, love |url=http://www.punchng.com/spice/essence/ali-baba-mary-comedy-fun-love/ |newspaper=Punch |date=22 September 2013 |access-date=12 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226051924/http://www.punchng.com/spice/essence/ali-baba-mary-comedy-fun-love/ |archive-date=26 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}

• My Guy (1998)
• The Last 3 Digits (2014){{cite web|title=THE LAST 3 DIGITS 1ST TRAILER|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6okPcE1xySo|website=You Tube|publisher=Moses Inwang|accessdate=27 October 2014}}{{cite web|title=Dr Sid, Don Jazzy, Ali Baba, A.Y unveiled in "The Last Three Digits"|url=https://9aijabooksandmovies.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/dr-sid-don-jazzy-ali-baba-a-y-unveiled-in-the-last-three-digits/|website=9aijabooks and Movies|date=12 November 2012|publisher=9aijabooksandmovies|accessdate=12 November 2012}}{{cite web|title=New Trailer Alert: Moses Inwang's 'THE LAST 3 DIGITS'|url=http://judithaudu.blogspot.com/2014/10/new-trailer-alert-moses-inwangs-last-3.html|website=Judith Audu Blogspot|date=29 October 2014|publisher=Judith Audu|accessdate=29 October 2014}}{{cite web|title='The Last 3 Digits' Moses Inwang's movie wins 'Best International film' award|url=http://pulse.ng/movies/the-last-3-digits-moses-inwangs-movie-wins-best-international-film-award-id3828675.html|website=Pulse Nigeria|date=4 June 2015|publisher=Chidumga Izuzu|accessdate=4 June 2015}}
• Head Gone (2014)
• The Wedding Party (2016)
• Alakada (2017)
• Gold Statue (2019) as Mr. Manuel
• The Man for the Job (2022) as Lai

• List of Nigerian comedians

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• [http://xclusive.ng/ali-baba-basketmouth-go-dye-nigerian-comedians-shift-joor-arent-funny-enough/ Xclusive Features on Ali Baba and other Nigerian comedians]

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Category:Living people

Category:1965 births

Category:Nigerian male comedians

Category:Ambrose Alli University alumni

Category:Nigerian television personalities

Category:Nigerian male film actors

Category:Male actors from Warri

Category:21st-century Nigerian male actors

Category:Actors from Delta State

Category:Nigerian stand-up comedians

Category:Nigerian comedians